In honor of the NCAA Final Four Tournament, Thrun staff were encouraged to show off their school spirit. And despite having a lone “Blue Devil” in our midst, and a few other unmentionable institutions of higher education, it is safe to say that our East Lansing office bleeds green. Wishing...
The Ingham County Bar Association recently named Thrun Law Firm’s Jennifer Johnston as one of the “Top 5 Under 35” attorneys in Ingham County, recognizing Jennifer for her integrity, character, judgment, legal scholarship, service to the profession and the community, and her reputation for advancing the...
Some districts recently received a letter from the Michigan Department of Education’s Office of Professional Preparation Services—Professional Accountability Unit (“OPPS”) notifying them that they have been selected for an audit of their professional development records. The notification letters sought records showing proof of...
MDE recently revised its 2011 guidance on “Appropriate Instructional Assignments for Elementary Certified Teachers.” A copy of the new guidance is available on our website link at www.thrunlaw.com/links.
A person who holds an elementary teaching certificate issued before September 1, 1988, may teach all subjects in grades K-8. A person who holds an elementary teaching certificate issued after September 1, 1988 may teach all...
Under Section 614 of the Revised School Code, board membership is determined biennially on the first Monday in June for intermediate school districts that do not have popularly-elected boards of education. Board members are elected by a body composed of one person designated by the board of each constituent school district. A calendar of significant dates for the biennial election is attached to this edition of School Law Notes.
Appointing a Representative...
Governor Snyder recently signed into law PA 563 of 2014, modifying statewide standards for public bodies in disclosing public records and charging fees under the Freedom of Information Act. PA 563 is effective July 1, 2015.
Section 4 of the FOIA states that a public body may charge a fee for searching, copying, and providing public records in response to a FOIA request if it has established and made public its FOIA policies. Before completing a FOIA request, a public body may require...
On January 13, 2015, Governor Snyder signed into law PA 478 of 2014, which amends section 1310b of the Revised School Code to require school anti-bullying policies to include a statement prohibiting cyberbullying. This amendment becomes effective on March 19, 2015, and requires that, by September 19, 2015, schools include “cyberbullying as a form of bullying” in anti-bullying policies.
PA 478 amends the statutory definition of “bullying” to include “cyberbullying.” The amended law...
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan recently granted a temporary restraining order banning a special education student from entering school grounds pending the outcome of further Individualized Education Program (“IEP”) team meetings based on the student’s violent outbursts. Wayne-Westland Community Schs v VS, Docket No. 14-13904 (ED MI, 2014).
V.S., a 6-foot tall and 250-pound teenager, repeatedly threatened and attacked students and staff members....
MERC recently ruled that neither the Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) nor the Public Employment Relations Act (“PERA”) requires an employer to provide a union with confidential interview questions used in making a promotion determination, even if the union claims the information is necessary for processing a grievance. County of Macomb, Case No. C11 L-215 (September 26, 2014).
In November 2010, Macomb County posted an opening for a Custodial I position. This position was...
The December 31, 2014 Qualifying Statement filing deadline is fast approaching. School officials should take the necessary steps to ensure that the Qualifying Statement form is filed with the Michigan Department of Treasury (“Treasury”) on or before the deadline to avoid late fees and other negative consequences...